johnson



(No Model.)

L. K.-JOHNSON'.

PRINTERSY GOMPOSING RULE.

Patented Feb. 21,1882.

figure A? Mr N, PETERS Phomuxhn npher, Washington. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- LOUIS K. JOHNSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PRINTERS COMPOSING-RULE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.254,018, dated February 21, 1882.

' Application filed July ll, 1881. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that Loms K. JOHNSON, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Composing-Rules for Printers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to theflat shield or backing called the rule that is employed in connection with the ordinary compositors stick for the purpose of preserving the alignment of the line of type last completed while the next following is being placed in position; and it consists in forming the upper edge of said rule with a curvilinear guide and protector, which extends over theline last completed, thus protecting the faces of the types composing said line, while at the same time it forms a guide for the type that is to be placed in the line in process of composition, said guide being free from all abrupt corners or edges so as to obviate all danger of the end of a type or the shoulders occasioned by the notches in the body thereof engaging or catching and retarding the operation of composition.

My invention is also adapted for use in connection with my improved type and space case or holder, in which the types and spaces are arranged in channels in a prescribed position. In order to effect this uniform arrangement of the types and spacesin channels economically it is desirable to employ distributing-machines which sort out and arrange the types in their proper channels automatically, to accomplish which each type and space has to be provided with one or more nicks in one of its longitudinal edges inaddition to the ordinary manufac turers nick,which is used to designate the particular font or style to which it belongs. These nicks, as well as the slight depression or nick which is usually found in thelower ends of the type render the latter especially liable to catch or engage with any sharp angle, edge, or shoulder with which they may be brought into contact, thus causing delay and annoyance.

As the great desideratum in almost all kinds of type-setting is speed in composition, every contrivance that facilitates the placing of the types or spaces into the stick with greater convenience to the operator is of importance in the aggregate; and to this end my invention renders its possible to perform the operations of' an isometrical perspective view of a stick in use provided with my improved rule. Fig. 2 is an isometrical perspective of the rule removed from the stick, and Fig. 3 a cross-section of the rule.

The flat body A of the rule is made in the ordinary manner, and is preferably provided with the projecting lugs or finger-pieces a a at each end, at or near the top, for convenience in removing and transferring the rule to the front as the lines are completed.

The combined guide and protector B is preferably formed from the same piece of metal or other material employed by bending that portion which is to project beyond and above typehigh over in a lateral direction a sufficient extent to overlap one or more lines of type, and in a curve of sufiicient amplitude and extent to remove the extreme upper edge or extremity of the rule beyond the danger of contact and engagement with the shoulders or sharp corners on the types or spaces while the latter are being placed in position.

What I claim as my invention is- The improved com posin g-rule, provided with the combined guide and protector, substantially in the manner and for the purposes described.

LOUIS K. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

WM. A. PoLLocK, GEo. H. EVANS. 

